Helping end hunger at the mouth of York River

Thursday

Nov 26, 2009 at 3:15 AMNov 26, 2009 at 6:03 AM

YORK, Maine — Nationally recognized accordion player Gary Sredzienski has become a local legend thanks to his energetic surf-music band, his long-running 1950s-style WUNH radio show and for being the focus of the one-man play "Creek Man." But another feat is gaining momentum as his claim to fame. Sredzienski dives into the water every December, defying the tides and the temperature, to do a charity swim. This year, he is taking the plunge for Share Our Strength Seacoast.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, Sredzienski will swim five miles along the York River to the ocean to raise money to help end childhood hunger. This will be Sredzienski's third charity swim, so, to add a new twist, he will get out of the water and put on a Serfs holiday show at The Stage Neck Inn in York Harbor.

Sredzienski said he chose Share Our Strength Seacoast because he is angered by the paradox of childhood hunger in such a prosperous nation.

"America is the richest land in the world and yet some kids are denied basic human needs," he said. "To know that 1 in 6 children won't even have a simple breakfast tomorrow morning — I just can't get over this. It boggles my mind."

Sredzienski has swum to The Isles of Shoals and along the Piscataqua River, which has one of the strongest currents in the country, to help other causes. Swimming in the York River this year could mean some of the coldest temperatures he has faced.

"What makes estuary swims in winter more difficult than ocean swims is temperature. It's brutally cold," he explained. "Water temps can reach the upper 20s in winter and still not freeze due to salinity and movement of water. The coldest the ocean gets is around 38 degrees. So the York River will be frigid for sure — it is already!"

"My biggest concern is keeping my core body temperature warm," he added "A swimmer can get hypothermia swimming in 70 degree water. Water whisks heat away from the body 20 times more efficiently than air. And even with the warmest scuba/surfing gear, you still can get cold. This has been a big part of my science experiment with this. The challenge of this is to swim the river and successfully play a gig with the band!"

Still, Sredzienski says, the challenges of the winter swim pale in comparison to what hungry kids face every day.

"The holidays are coming and it breaks my heart to know that a child will be hungry during that time, during the winter. The cold and pain that I have to endure for such a short time is nothing compared to what so many have to endure. It kills me to know a child has to endure hunger."

Liz Pruyn, co-chair of Share Our Strength Seacoast, said the group feels privileged to work with Sredzienski.

"Gary's legend precedes him, so when we heard he wanted to partner with us for the swim, we were honored. Here's a man whose great musical talent, as well as his strength and drive as a swimmer, are matched by his compassionate heart," she said. "Gary is literally 'sharing his strength' to help stop childhood hunger."

The event raises funds for Share Our Strength Seacoast when people make a donation in honor of the swim. To do so, go to http://www.firstgiving.com/swimforhunger

Sredzienski will enter the river at the bridge on Scotland Bridge Road in York at about noon on Sunday, Dec. 13. He hopes to reach the mouth of the ocean in two to three hours. He will warm up and rejuvenate at the Stage Neck Inn, then join his band for a Serfs' Holiday Extravaganza.

There will be a $15 cover at the door. Guests who bring a canned good or toiletry for the Footprints Food Pantry in Kittery get in for $10.

The Serfs show will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Stage Neck Inn, 8 Stage Neck Rd, York, Maine.

To follow Sredzienski's training for, and musings on, this swim and more, fan his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garys-Swim-for-Hunger/190253664264? ref=ts

More than 12.4 million — one in six — children in America are at risk of hunger. These children will endure lifelong consequences as a result of having limited access to nutritious foods. In fact, they're more likely to suffer poorer health, fatigue, hospitalizations, behavioral difficulties and impaired performance at school.

Despite the good efforts of governments, private-sector institutions and everyday Americans, millions of our children still don't have daily access to the nutritious meals they need to live active, healthy lives. Share Our Strength is a nonprofit organization that works to change that. It's local group, Share Our Strength Seacoast is entirely volunteer run and has raised nearly $1 million since it was founded in 1994.

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